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Summer’s here, so it’s time to think about some potluck salad recipes. This collection’s got you covered with everything from fruity to protein-backed to veggie-loaded salads you’ll want to share. Dig in!
Warm weather always makes me want to eat more raw, fresh, crunchy veggies. But, I’ve got to level with you, too many salads are just kind of meh. So, I decided to take some time to gather all my favorite summer-ready salad recipes so none of us (myself included) experience burnout this year.
I decided to break this roundup into categories. You’ve got your fruit-forward salads, your protein-loaded salads, and your veggie-centric salads. I threw some quinoa salad recipes in there, too, just in case you’re obsessed with quinoa as much as I am. What are you waiting for? Break out the tongs and salad bowl and get to tossing!
What Makes These Salad Recipes Perfect for Summer?
When compiling this list of summer faves, I tried to keep a few things in mind. Here’s why I think each and every one of these salads is perfect for the season:
- My focus here was on using produce that’s in season through the summer. I don’t know about you, but I love it when I can build my meals around ingredients I picked up from the farmers’ market (or my garden!).
- These salads are all super colorful. We eat with our eyes first, remember? If I see a colorful salad on the potluck table, I’m going straight for it.
- Each of my selections has a little quirk to it that sets it apart from your run-of-the-mill, everyday salad. Whether it’s a unique dressing, a smattering of quinoa, or an unexpected veggie addition, these recipes prove that salad can be anything but boring.
15+ Best Summer Salad Recipes
Now that I’ve got you all jazzed about summer salads, it’s time to share some favorites. Enjoy!
Best Summer Salads with Fruit
I LOVE adding fruit to my salads. There’s something about the combo of savory and sweet that just does it for me. Especially in the summer when there’s so much fresh fruit just begging to be enjoyed. The following recipes do it right:
Blueberry Quinoa Salad
This blueberry quinoa salad with lemon-basil vinaigrette is high-protein and packed with fiber and vitamins from avocado, arugula, pecans, and fresh berries. It’s also vegan and gluten-free!
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Strawberry Spinach Salad with Toasted Quinoa
Simple and elegant, this strawberry spinach salad is loaded with sweet strawberries, crunchy almonds, and toasted quinoa. It’s finished with a refreshing honey-lime dressing with mint that just screams summer.
Recipe
Maple Lime Triple Berry Salad
This vibrant salad is jam-packed with juicy, fresh strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, and fluffy quinoa. Tossed in a bright maple-lime dressing with a hint of ginger, it’s perfect for breakfast or as a sweet side dish. I’ll even have it for dessert sometimes!
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High-Protein Summer Salad Recipes
Looking for a few salads that feel a bit more like a meal? I’ve got some recipes you’ve got to check out. Whether it’s quinoa, tofu, tempeh, cottage cheese, or lentils, there are so many creative, salad-appropriate protein additions out there:
Curried Lentil Salad
This curried lentil salad is wonderfully refreshing and filling at the same time. It’s made with kale, carrots, cucumber, pumpkin seeds, and mint, and has this super flavorful harissa-garlic dressing. Gotta love it!
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The Best Greek Chickpea Salad
This Mediterranean-inspired chickpea salad with cucumbers, herbs, bell pepper, tomatoes, olives, and creamy avocado swaps greens for protein-packed, fiber-rich chickpeas. It’s a fabulous vegan-friendly meal.
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Smashed Vegan Chickpea Salad
This smashed vegan chickpea salad with its creamy Caesar dressing, briny capers, and crunchy cashews is an ideal filling for any sandwich or wrap. Think chicken or tuna salad, but the vegan version.
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15-Minute Buffalo Tempeh Salad Bowls
If you’re a Buffalo sauce lover, these tempeh bowls are for you. Fresh greens and crunchy veggies are topped with crispy, buffalo-sauce-infused tempeh pieces and tossed with a simple lemon-and-tahini dressing.
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Cottage Cheese Egg Salad
Take lunch to the next level with this cottage cheese egg salad. It’s got eggs AND cottage cheese for protein. The Dijon dressing skips the mayo (the cottage cheese is creamy enough) and has the perfect hit of heat from paprika. Enjoy it in a sandwich, in lettuce cups, or straight out of the bowl.
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Quinoa Salad Recipes for Summer
As you may know, quinoa is kind of my thing. And these salads all include some (or a lot!) of this protein-packed grain. Let me know which is your favorite!
Spicy Moroccan Quinoa Salad
This 10-minute salad will blow your mind. Bursting at the seams with chickpeas, quinoa, shredded carrots, and dates, it’s tossed in this creamy, spiced dressing that’ll have you booking a flight to Morocco in no time.
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Quinoa Caprese Salad
This take on a classic caprese salad (you know, with tomato, mozzarella, and basil) nixes the mozzarella for the vegans out there and adds fluffy quinoa and chickpeas to make it more of a meal. And that balsamic vinaigrette!? So good.
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Quinoa “Tabbouleh” Salad
Dressed with nothing but olive oil and lemon juice and inspired by the classic Middle Eastern side dish, this quinoa tabbouleh is bursting with fresh mint and parsley alongside crunchy cucumber and juicy cherry tomatoes. You’re going to love it.
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Asian Quinoa Power Salad
Kimchi, edamame, quinoa, crunchy veggies, and a ginger-miso dressing come together in this colorful Asian-inspired salad. Enjoy as is, or top it with your favorite protein.
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Veggie Lovers’ Summer Salads
If you just went to the farmers’ market and came home with a basket of summer veggies, the following salad recipes are where it’s at. Time to get inspired:
Grilled Vegetable Salad
This grilled veggie salad is ideal for your next summer cookout. Throw some mushrooms, onions, zucchini, summer squash, and asparagus on the grate. Char ’em up and load them into a salad bowl with greens, avocado, feta, and an out-of-this-world tahini dressing.
Check out this recipe
Vegan Cobb Salad
This simple vegan cobb features crunchy tempeh bacon, chickpeas, corn, avocado, and tomatoes. It’s all tossed in a creamy tahini-ranch dressing and makes for a fabulous lunch salad.
Recipe
Vegan Nicoise Salad Recipe
This vegan-friendly version of a traditional Nicoise salad tops crisp, fresh lettuce with baked seasoned tofu, crispy potatoes, briny olives, and crunchy green beans. The lemon-herb tahini dressing ties it together really nicely.
Recipe
Healthy Green Goddess Salad
This light, crunchy salad kind of goes with everything. It’s built on a bed of crisp butter lettuce with cucumber and radishes. The edamame, feta, and pistachios add some protein, and the creamy avocado herb dressing pulls it all together. Summer never tasted so good!
Recipe
More Summer Recipe Roundups
Alrighty then! I hope you enjoyed this chapter of Alyssa’s salad faves. If you’re interested in discovering more flavorful summer recipes, have a look at the following roundups: